Apparatus for and method of drawing flat-sheet glass



Oct. 7, 1930. A. E. 'SPINASSE 1,777,584

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD QF.DRAWING FLAT SHEET GLASS Filed March 3 1924 Patented Oct. 7,1930 7 a l nrmnnmos FOR AND vr'nrnon or DRAWING FLAT-SHEET'GLASS p Application filed March s, 1924. Serial No. 696,408.

The presentinvention relatesto means and surface of the glass. In Fig. 2, 7 .7 are the ,method for maintaining the width of a sheet Walls of a. tank furnace Whichmay be of any of glass being drawn from a bath of molten well known form and adapted to ,contain glass" by creating anchorage points at the molten glass 8. Member 1 as shown ismain- E2315 edge producing portions of the glass so retained in suitable glass segregating position 55 stricted that the edges of the sheet are drawn by any suitablemeanssucl'i as blocks 10-10, V to a thickness substantially equal to or slightso that portions of the glass 8 will have a lyigreater, in thickness than the thickness of tendency to pass through the side slots 5 the'finished bodyportion of the sheet. into the pockets of themember. This glass 10 In myPatent No. 1,167,534 dated J an; 11 does not fillthe pocketshowever but is drawn on 1916, I show hollow members having pockets to form the edges of the sheet; and the side or cavities adjacent the portion of glass from slots -may be. adjusted with respect to the which the article is being drawn, and in my level of the glass to supply the requiredquanpending applications N0, 211,266filed' Jan. tityof glass for thedrawing of the sheet .215 10, 1918, new U. S;-Patent No. 1,692,585, edges in Isaidside slots. The glasshas a tend- 6 granted Nov. 20, 1928, and No. 558,547 filed ency to flow outwardly into the side slots55 May 4 1922, I showand describe devices havthereby as shown. by dotted lines 9, main- .ing glass receiving slots'adjacent to hollow taining the width of the drawn sheet sub.- p-ocket members from which to draw the stantially uniform. W sheet edges in predetermined form or in sub- The perpendicularside slots 5 leading to stantially finished drawn thickness. Inmy the interior of the hollow members of prefpresentimprovementl extend the glass re- 'erence are narrower than the maximum'thickceivingslot-for-the edges of the drawn sheet ness of the base of the drawn sheet at the throughtheside walls of the hollow pocket surface of the glass and may vary from $2 member or members so that'the glass tends 4 inch to 1 or 2inches'm0re or less depending to flow into said pockets and is shaped in on the thickness of the glass which is to be thesl-otwhi le being drawn as it ismore or' drawn. i v less exposed to the air in the interior of said In Figs. 3 and 4;]: show an independent holpockets low slotted pocket member rather thanaseg- 8. Fig..l,is atop plan view. oit' a suitable form regating member so that one of these mem- Q of glass segregating member, and Fig. 2, is a kbersll maybe adjusted independently from 1 vertical cross sectional: view on line the other at the edges of the drawn sheet. .In of Fig. 1, plus thesidewalls ofa tank fur 'thiscase the side perpendicular slot 50f the nace and block meansfor holdingthemempocket member issomewhat curved to conher in drawing position. I formwith the curve otthe forming sheet r Fig. 3", is a topview, and Fig. '4, a vertical edge and the slot penetrates more deeply in v sectionalview of a slightly modified form of the glass as shown. Dotted lines 9. indicate pocket member adapted to form restricted the drawn sheet glass. Qf course the length points o fanchorageat the edges of the drawn of the slot and the width. thereof may be sheet glass; 1 varied at will; 'itmay be vertical or, at an an- .90 In Fig. 1, member 1 has parallel side walls gle from the verticahcurved or straight and 22 forming a. horizontal glass receiving the width thereof maybe modified locally and slot 3 whichmay be of any desiredwidth, it may extendgto different level positions to pockets 'o'rcavitieskat the end portionof "receive the portion ofthe glass fromwhich 11145 said member being provided as shown and the edge of the sheet ta'kes'form. The pocket thehorizonta l slot 3 continued through the members may be made of -desired material walls of said pockets to form the vertical and may or may not adhere to the glass. slots 55 as shown to receive theedge form- Preferably the air-filled bowls or pocketing portions of the glass. The bottom 6-6 shaped members adhere to; the hot glass being of the. pockets preferably extends below the drawn and contacting therewith. Inorder to within the bowl shaped memberand also efpendent chamber member shown in 4.

The oppositely disposed side walls'of the slots may be of desired contour with substantially fiat surface walls as shown. Sheet edges of any desired thickness, with respect to the thickness of the intermediate body portion of the sheet, may also be" obtained byvarying the space'between the walls forming the slot. The segregating slot member from which the intermediate portion of the sheet is being drawn, when used, may also be maintained at the desired level with respectto the surface level of the bath, and the cross sectional area thereof may be varied so thatthe oppositely disposed walls'thereof may be maintained'remote from or in proximity to the forming base of the drawn sheet.

The border portion of the forming sheet preferably fits in the slot and is drawn 'with a retarding dragging action against the inner walls of the slot, and as shown, the walls of the air-filled bowl shaped edging or anchor- 1 ing members are cut away to form a slot therethrough open at the upper edge of the member and extending downward tothe closed bottom of the member. The walls of the member are also preferably inclined or curved upwardly and inwardly towardthe forming sheet to effect the gradual shielding of theair fecting the proper shielding of the forming edgeor border portion ofthe sheet from the rising heat of the bath, and thereby effecting the gradual cooling "and stretching of the forming border portion of the sheet whileb'eing exposed tothe confined air within the bowl shaped edging member.

Having thus described my present inven- 'tion, what Iclaimas new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: I

. 1. A glass sheetanchorage device comprising a bowl having a slotthe lower portion of which forms anchorage means for mai'ntain ing the width of the sheet,the sidewalls of said slot curving upwardly and inwardly at opposite margin portions of the sheet.

2. A device formaintaining the'width of drawn sheet glass comprising an air-filled hollow member having'a slot through the side walls thereof thro gh which the border portion of the sheetpasses. n 3.;In apparatus for .drawingsheet'glass froma bath of molten glas's,"an edging member comprising an air-filled bowl shaped member having a shaping slot in the side wall thereof engaging the initially drawn border of the sheet.

4:. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, independent edge anchoring means comprising hollow air-filled pocket members having slots in the side walls thereof at an angle from the vertical and through which slots the side edge portions of the sheet are drawn in contact therewith and shaped in desired reduced thickness.

5. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath-of molten glass, means for maintaining the desired width of the drawn sheet comprising a pair of air-filled bowl shaped members, one on each side of the sheet, said members having each a slot through the'side walls thereof engaging the initially drawn border portions of the drawn sheet and adheringthereto. 1

6. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, a pair of air-filled hollow devices having each a slot in the side walls thereof through which the border portions of the sheet are directly drawn and shaped in desired thickness with the edges of the sheet exposed to the air within said hollow devices, and means for maintaining said hollow devices in desired fixed position with respect to the drawn glass. V I

7. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass at a particular level, an edging member comprising an airfilled hollow member with its lowerv portion in fixed position the glass bath for. counter acting the narrowing tendency of the drawn sheet, said, member having a slot cut-away in the side wall thereof projecting above the surface level of the bathland engagingthe initiallyldrawn border portion of the sheet for shaping 'the same in desired reduced thickness.

In. apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, means for counteracting the narrowing tendency of the sheet comprising anair-filledbowl shaped member havingits side cut-away to form a slot therein extending from the lower to the upper portion thereof, and means for maintaining said member infixed position with the lower portionofthe' slot in. the glass bath and the. remaining portion of said slot thereabove projecting above the normal level of the bath and engaging the border portion of the sheet.

9. In. apparatus.- for' drawing'sheet glass from a bath ofmolten glass,m eans for maintaining thedesired width ofjthedrawn sheet comprising a hollow member having side w'allsand a' closed bottom and having a perpendicular'slot cut-awayqthrough said side walls extending to the bottom thereof, and means for maintaining" said member in fixed position sothat'the border portion of the sheet will anchor at the base of the slot and will i pass upwardly in adherent dragging contact through said slot for reducing said border portion in desired thickness.

10. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass, an edging member comprising an air-filled hollow member having a partwith an open slot therein for engaging the drawn edge portion of the sheet, said part and slot being inclined upwardly on the side of the sheet for shielding the rising edge portion of the sheet which passesthrough the slot.

. shielded air within said pocket.

12. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, means for preventing inward'movement of. the edge of the sheet, comprising a bowl-shaped member hav ing an open slot in its side wall engaging the drawn border portion of the forming sheet.

13. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, means for maintaining the desired width of the sheet comprising a hollow air containing shielding member having a closed bottom portion and its upper portion open, said member further having an open slot in its side wall of great er width than the finished thickness of the sheet and fitting'over the initially drawn border portion of the forming sheet to expose said border portion to the air within said hollow member. 5

14:. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, means for forming an edge on the sheet comprising an air containing 1 pocket-shaped member having a side wall, an open top and a closed bottom portion, said member further having a slot extending downwardly from the upper edge of its side wall and then. inwardly to the bottom portion. thereof for engagement with the drawn glass at the border portion of the sheet whereby to eXposesaid border portion to the air within the pocket of said member and maintain the desired width of the sheet.

. 15. In apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a ba th of'molten glass, means for pre venting the narrowing of the forming sheet comprising a pair of bowl-shaped members fixed in position adj acent'the forming border ortions of the sheet, said bowl-shaped memers having each an open slot extending outward and upward from their bottom portions to the upper edges thereof and engaging the "portions of the sheet. 1

border portions of the forming sheetfthe walls of said bowl-shaped members being of substantial thickness and extending, a substantial distance from the forming border 16. In apparatus for froma bath of molten glass, means whereby the meniscus ofthesheet may be drawnfree from contact with shaping refractory wallsexcept at the border, portions, and slotted drawing sheet glass anchoring members having air pocketstherein through which-the'border portions'extend and; drag in adherentcontact'with the walls ofthexslots and exposed tothe air in the air pockets.

17 In, apparatus for drawing sheet glass from a bath of molten glass, 3. receptaclelfor containing the molten glass, an edging device comprising a bowl-shaped member adapted to, take positionadjacent the wall of the receptacle and having a slot in its side wall engaging the rising borderportion ofthe sheet,

I andmeans extending above the wall of the re ceptaclefor holding the bowl-shaped member in desired position.

V 18. The process for forming thefedg'es of glass shots, which consists in creating cooling air spaces adjacent the initially-drawn edge portionsofthe sheet, while shieldingthe air spaces from the surrounding heat, and draw- 3 ing the sheet edges through slotted edge-holdingm'emberswith adherent dragging contact upon the walls of; the, slottednp'ortions and exposed to the air in the air spaces.

- 19.-The1 process-for forming the edges of sheet glass,whicli consistsin maintaining an air-space adjacent the initially formed edges of the sheet, shielding the air spacefrom'the surrounding heat, and drawing the edges'of the sheetwithtension past the air space. I

20;. The, process for forming sheet glassof uniformwidthffrom a bathxof molten glass,

which consists in maintaining air pockets adjacent the border portions of the'initially drawnysheet, shielding the air pockets from the, surroundingheat from, the molten bath,

drawing the border 7 portions of :thesheet through slots in anchoring, members with the border portions exposed to the shielded air pockets and in adl1erent1dragging contact upon the walls of the. slotted portions, and drawing the remaining portion ofthe sheet from the free open surface of the bath.

21. In apparatus. for drawing sheets of glass from a substantially open bath of molten glass, stationary air-filled hollowanchoring member having an open slot extending through the side wall thereof for engaging the forming border portion only of the sheet,

the inner walls of the slot being fiat-'for flattening the border portion ofthesheet in reduced thicknes; I

22. In apparatus for drawing sheets of glass from a substantially open bath of molten glass, an edging device comprising a normally stationary hollowmember having a side wall, a closed bottom and an open top, said member further having a sheet border receiving slot about one inch wide through its 5 side and opening through its .top edge and' extendinginto and toward themiddle portion of the bottom and being disposed for receiving the border portion only of the forming sheet with a dragging action of said bloider portion against the inner wall of the s o a 23. In apparatus for drawing sheets of glass from a substantially open bath of molten glass, a stationary air-filled hollow edging member for maintaining the desired width of the drawn sheet, said member being open at its top and closed at "its bottom and having a slot for receiving and adherently engaging the border producing portion of the glass of the forming sheet with a dragging action, said slot extending through the side wall of the hollow edging member and opening through the upper edgeo-i' the member and the walls forming the slot curving downwardly toward the bottom and center of the member, whereby the forming border portion of the sheet passing through the slot will'be exposed to the air within the hollow member and at the same time beshielded from the surrounding heatand rising heat from the molten glass 24. The process for drawing sheets of glass, which consists in drawing the sheet from a substantially open bathof molten glass creat ing air spacesadjacent the forming border portions only of; the sheet, drawing' the' forming border portions only of the sheet through slotted edge-holding inembers while main- 'tainingsaid members against any movement,

4 and in dragging saidborder portions 1n adherent retarding contact against the inner walls of the slots in said members to thereby stretch said border portions and counteract the narrowing tendency of the sheet, at the I same time'exposing the forming border portions of the sheet to said air spaces and shielding said border portions and air spaces from the'surrounding heat and rising heat from the molten glass bath.

i In testimony. whereof, I aflix my signature. I

- ARTHUR E. SPINASSE. 

